An Afghan girl arrived in Tokyo on Thursday to undergo surgery aimed at removing a bullet that has been lodged in her head since 1996, when she was shot during the civil war raging in her homeland, her supporters said.
Fatema Safar only received first aid at a hospital when she was hit by the stray bullet and has been suffering from headaches ever since, according to Aid for War Orphans in Asia, a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization.
The girl is believed to be 13 years old, group members said, adding that her birth date has not been confirmed.
The girl sought help from the group, which assists children in the war-torn country, prompting it to solicit donations and make efforts to bring her to Japan, the members said.
In May, she underwent an X-ray exam at a different hospital in Afghanistan that detected a bullet about 3 cm long near the top of her nose, they said.
"I am happy to be able to come to Japan," Safar told reporters upon her arrival at Narita International Airport. "I would like to go to school and study after getting well."
She is scheduled to have an operation after undergoing a week of complete medical checkups at a Tokyo hospital, the members said.
